Silver, owner of the Gastonia Grizzlies of the Coastal Plains League and the Savannah Sand Gnats of the South Atlantic League, isn't saying anything local baseball fans haven't heard before.

"I plan to make the commitment to baseball in Spartanburg," he said.

Silver, a certified public accountant from New York, is moving to Lake Norman, N.C., to be closer to his three franchises and his family.

Silver estimates that it will take between $100,000 and $200,000 to make "serious renovations" to Duncan Park. City officials denied there is an agreement in place to give financial aid to the new owner.

Although he owns two other franchises, Silver has vowed the Stingers are his top priority. "Right now, Spartanburg is at the top of my list because it needs the most work," he said.

Silver, who came to Spartanburg to announce his purchase, said he also signed a new lease for Duncan Park. Silver, when asked by the media, would not say how much he paid for the franchise or give the details of the lease.

City officials said there is no new lease, but an extension of the Stingers' existing lease remains in place with an additional $500 added to the previous $4,000 a year fee negotiated by former owner Pete Bock. The city extended the lease for two years, as required by the CPL bylaws to insure a franchise has a place to play its games.

Though Silver would not disclose the sale price, the minimum range to buy a CPL franchise is $150,000. Bock placed a new CPL team in Spartanburg and did not have to purchase the franchise.

What Silver would say is that he doesn't mind sharing the facility with American Legion and the Crickets of the Southern Collegiate Baseball League.

"We plan to reach out to the other clubs here in town. We have a good relationship with the Legion team in Gastonia," he said.

Vice president of baseball operations Jack Thompson said that not enough people know about the Stingers. There is a plan in place to address that problem.

"The Stingers' first order of business is to completely immerse themselves in the community," he said.